The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express®, is pleased to announce the films selected for the World Narrative Competition category. The 2013 film selection includes feature films from 30 different countries, including 53 World Premieres, 7 International Premieres, 15 North American Premieres, 6 U.S. Premieres and 8 New York Premieres. A total of 113 directors will present feature works at the Festival, with 35 of these filmmakers marking their feature directorial debuts. Among these directors, 26 are women. The 2013 film slate was chosen from a total of 6005 submissions.

In keeping with Tribeca’s mission of nurturing dialogue between American filmmakers and their global counterparts, our competition selections embody the quality and diversity of contemporary cinema both in this country and abroad. Themes such as love, coming of age, and reinvention are relevant in all cultures and communities as these films ably demonstrate.

These tweleve features also reflect the universal power of film and storytelling that Tribeca celebrates in its competition. This year, Bluebird, written and directed by Lance Edmands and starring Amy Morton, John Slattery, Margo Martindale and Adam Driver, will have the honor of opening the 2013 World Narrative Competition.

Alì Blue Eyes (Alì ha gli occhi azzurri)
Directed by Claudio Giovannesi, written by Filippo Gravino and Claudio Giovannesi
(Italy) – International Premiere

Claudio Giovannesi’s award-winning second dramatic feature captures one week in the life of sixteen-year-old troublemaker Nader, who, despite his mother’s threats and family’s insistence that he respect his Muslim roots, fights, steals and pursues an Italian girlfriend. A stunning example of contemporary Italian neo-realism, Alì Blue Eyes is an engrossing coming-of-age story about an immigrant who will stop at nothing to fit in. In Italian with subtitles.

Before Snowfall (Før snøen faller)
Directed by Hisham Zaman, written by Kjell Ola Dahl and Hisham Zaman
(Norway, Germany, Iraqi Kurdistan Region) – International Premiere

Director Hisham Zaman brings the moral crisis of honor killing front and center in this dazzling, international drama. When his older sister Nermin flees an arranged marriage, Siyar must atone for the slight. He tracks her from Kurdistan to Istanbul, where a fateful encounter with a street girl creates cracks in his resolve. Then Nermin escapes into Europe, and Siyar must continue a search that will forever change his notions of loyalty, dignity, honor and love. In Kurdish with subtitles.

Bluebird
Directed and written by Lance Edmands
(USA) – World Premiere

On a freezing January evening, school bus driver Lesley (Amy Morton) completes her route, but her final inspection abruptly ends when a bluebird comes into view. What happens next shakes her small Maine logging town, proving that even the slightest actions have enormous consequences. Co-starring Adam Driver, Margo Martindale, John Slattery, Louisa Krause and Emily Meade, Lance Edmands’s absorbing feature debut is a perfect encapsulation of the interconnectedness of life.

The Broken Circle Breakdown
Directed by Felix van Groeningen, written by Carl Joos and Felix van Groeningen
(Belgium, Netherlands) – North American Premiere

Elise runs a tattoo shop. Didier plays in a bluegrass band. When their daughter Maybelle is born, their happiness is complete, until a tangle of complications forces these two very different lovers to fight to save their marriage. Belgian director Felix van Groeningen follows his acclaimed Cannes entry The Misfortunates with this powerhouse melodrama of star-crossed lovers laced with emotional bluegrass performances. In Dutch with subtitles.

Hide Your Smiling Faces
Directed and written by Daniel Patrick Carbone
(USA) – North American Premiere

During a hot summer in rural America, brothers Tommy (Ryan Jones) and Eric (Nathan Varnson) are confronted with devastation as death forces its way into their young lives. This stunning debut feature explores the nature of the relationship between boys, as both violence and support is encapsulated in quiet storytelling and breathtaking photography. With incredibly sensitive performances by its two leads, Hide Your Smiling Faces packs a subtle but powerful punch.

Just a Sigh (Le temps de l'aventure)
Directed and written by Jérôme Bonnell
(France) – International Premiere

In the short break between performances in Calais, stage actress Alix (the stunning Emmanuelle Devos) makes a quick escape to Paris. On the train she meets a mysterious English stranger (Gabriel Byrne) and, for the most fleeting of afternoons, imagines what the future could hold down a different road. With masterful performances by its two acclaimed stars, Just a Sigh is an imaginative, lushly filmed Parisian romance from young and versatile director Jérôme Bonnell. In English, French with subtitles.

Lily
Directed by Matt Creed, written by Amy Grantham and Matt Creed
(USA) – World Premiere

Nearing the end of her treatment for breast cancer, Lily focuses on life with newfound clarity, reevaluating her relationship with an older man and her feelings about her long-absent father. In wandering through atmospheric New York City streets and lingering in intimate, charged moments with Lily during this vulnerable period, first-time director Matt Creed and actress Amy Grantham create a mature, stylish character piece reminiscent of classic French New Wave.

The Rocket
Directed and written by Kim Mordaunt
(Australia) – North American Premiere

Set against the lush backdrop of rural Laos, this spirited drama tells the story of scrappy ten-year-old Ahlo, who yearns to break free from his ill-fated destiny. After his village is displaced to make way for a massive dam, Ahlo escapes with his father and grandmother through the Laotian outback in search of a new home. Along the way, they come across a rocket festival that offers Ahlo a lucrative but dangerous chance to prove his worth. In Lao with subtitles.

Six Acts (Shesh Peamim)
Directed by Jonathan Gurfinkel, written by Rona Segal
(Israel) – North American Premiere

Naïve teen Gili is determined to improve her social status by hooking up with her new school’s coolest guy. Afterwards, he passes her off to his friend. Happy at first for the attention, Gili soon finds her situation deteriorating, as this average girl is increasingly consumed by a culture of oversexed teenhood. Director Jonathan Gurfinkel questions conventional ideas of consent, exploitation and complicity in this edgy and perceptive feature debut. In Hebrew with subtitles.

Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Directed by Sam Fleischner, written by Rose Lichter-Marck and Micah Bloomberg
(USA) – World Premiere

When autistic teen Ricky is scolded for skipping class, he escapes into the subway for a days-long odyssey among the subway’s disparate denizens. Meanwhile, his mother wages an escalating search effort above ground. Based on a true story and set in Far Rockaway, Queens, in the days leading up to Hurricane Sandy, these parallel stories of mother and son take the viewer on a touching journey of community and connection in and below New York City.

Sunlight Jr.
Directed and written by Laurie Collyer
(USA) – World Premiere

Quickie-mart employee Melissa (Naomi Watts) and paraplegic Richie (Matt Dillon) are very much in love. Supported only by Melissa’s small hourly wage, they are nevertheless thrilled to learn that Melissa is pregnant. Then their situation deteriorates, and their tenuous financial situation threatens to bring their happy life crashing down. Norman Reedus also stars in this a moving romantic drama from Laurie Collyer, director of the Golden Globe-nominated Sherrybaby.

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
Directed and written by Arvin Chen
(Taiwan R.O.C.) – North American Premiere

Straitlaced optometrist Weichung is finding the typical married life difficult. Then he bumps into an old flame, setting off an unexpected array of dormant emotions. Meanwhile, his sister Mandy flees her sad sack fiancé, coping via food and the fantastical appearance of a daytime soaps star on her couch. Arvin Chen’s sophomore feature is a fresh and playful comedy about the odd realities of desire in a traditional society and what happens when you seek a big change. In Korean, Mandarin with subtitles.

Awards

These twelve distinctive films will compete for the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, sponsored by AKA, Best New Narrative Director presented by American Express®, Best Actor and Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. In addition to these 12 narrative films making their North American, International, or World Premieres, 12 documentary features that are also will compete for cash prizes totaling $180,000, as well as artwork from the Artists Awards program sponsored by Chanel, featuring donated work from renowned artists including Stephen Hannock, Robert Longo, William Wegman and Dustin Yellin.

Check out more of the slate:

TFF 2013: World Documentary Competition
TFF 2013: Viewpoints
TFF 2013: Spotlight
TFF 2013: Midnight
TFF 2013: Special Screening

Packages and passes are on sale now for American Express® cardmembers and will go on sale to the general public on Monday, March 11 at 11am:  Learn more about TFF 2013 Ticket Packages.

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